Welcome to the inaugural Department of Physical

Therapy Newsletter. This is the first of what I hope will be

many newsletters to follow that share news related to our

students, faculty and staff. It is also intended to

showcase the amazing work being done by graduates

of our program. If you have something you would

like highlighted in a future edition, please contact

alumni@une.edu.

I would like to use my first “Message from the Program

Director” to offer a sincere word of thanks to Michael

Fillyaw, who will be retiring in May 2015. Professor Fillyaw

earned his B.S. in physical therapy in 1972 from the

University of Connecticut and his M.S. in Exercise

Science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in

1982. He joined the faculty at UNE in 1991 after serving

in the role of research physical therapist in the

Department of Neurology at the University of Vermont

from 1983–1991.

Most of you know Mike best from his role as instructor for

courses addressing the physical therapy management of

individuals with disorders of the cardiovascular and

pulmonary system, research methods, case report, or

scientific inquiry. In addition to his exemplary record as

a teacher/scholar, Mike was instrumental in helping to

revise and augment these courses, as well as the entire

curriculum, as the program transitioned from a bachelor’s

degree to master’s degree to doctoral degree program. In

this context, he helped to guide the faculty through

successful reaccreditation site visits from the Commission

on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education in 1998, 2002

and 2012. The department faculty formally recognized

these efforts by awarding him the Founder’s Award in

1998 and 2011, which honors an individual who “gave

outstanding and unfailing support to the Physical Therapy

Program during its development or subsequent revisions.”

Mike’s retirement will leave large shoes to fill. We wish

him all the best for a long and happy retirement. He will

use some of this time to develop his budding photography

career for which he is already receiving local attention. I

encourage you to see some of his amazing work at:

https://plus.google.com/+MichaelFillyaw/photos

Please join me in congratulating Mike on his retirement

and in thanking him for all he has done for the Physical

Therapy Program over the past 24 years. We plan to host

a department event in May to mark the occasion, so

stay tuned for further details.

Until Next Time,

MICHAEL R. SHELDON, P.T., PH.D. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND PORTLAND, MAINE PH: 207-221-4591 FAX: 207-523-1910 EMAIL: msheldon@une.edu

S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

DEPARTMENT of PHYSICAL THERAPYN E W S L E T T E R

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P RO G R A M D I R E C T O R

Mike

#6 100%

1440

ABOUT USBy the numbers

#6 U.S. News & World Report has ranked the

profession of physical therapist No. 6 in its

“100 Best Jobs of 2015”

100% Percentage of UNE D.P.T. graduates

surveyed who were employed within six months

of passing the national licensing examination

between 2010 and 2012

1440 Number of hours students spend in

full-time clinical experiences during the Doctor

of Physical Therapy program

The Department of Physical Therapy will be hosting two continuing education courses provided by the Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments.

• Lower Quarter Examinations and Treatments, April 11-12

• Advanced Lower Limb Sports Medicine, June 6-7

Each course will be held on the Portland Campus from 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. for two consecutive days (Saturday and Sunday); the cost of each is $495. For more information, or to register, please see www.iamt.org. Questions can be directed to Adrienne McAuley at jmcauley@une.edu.

www.une.edu

Michael Fillyaw

FIRST ANNUAL PINNING CEREMONY

The Department of Physical Therapy, within the Westbrook

College of Health Professions, conducted the first annual

pinning ceremony for program participants entering their

third and final year on December 4, 2014. While many

health professionals receive a white coat as a symbol of

entering practice in their profession, the department

chose to use a lapel pin that can be worn while practicing.

Members of the Class of 2015 gathered with faculty, friends

and family to celebrate their many academic, scholarship

and service accomplishments. The event featured remarks

by Michael Sheldon, P.T., Ph.D., program director, recitation

of the Professional Oath for Physical Therapist and a very

heart-felt poem written and presented by student

physical therapist James Townsend ’15.

Twas the Night Before Pinning

BY JAMES TOWNSEND ’15

Twas a cold night at UNE on the

eve of our pinning,

A new tradition for PT students

was just beginning.

I was struggling to find the right

words to say,

How very happy I am to be here with you today.

Last week at our annual Friendsgiving dinner,

I looked around and noticed we have a class full of winners.

I sat back reminiscing on all the good times we’ve had,

Knowing it would soon all be over, it made me quite sad.

While these past few years have been so much fun,

I’ve also realized how far we’ve really come.

All the hard work, the studying, the exams,

Practicals, presentations, and strategic plans.

Through all the long days, the stress, and tears,

To celebrating exams over a few cold…Beverages.

Through the highs and the lows, the ride has been wild,

We’ve had major life changes, weddings, and even a child!

From the times that George and Dan had us all wailing,

To taking the class photo in front of Hersey, whatever

happened to that railing?

As time goes on, we’ll be graduated, certified and employed,

But the memories created here can never be destroyed.

I’m really glad to have gotten to know Brent Manley,

But more importantly, to call you guys my DPT family.

While I have no champagne to pop off in celebration,

I’d like to extend to everyone a heartfelt congratulation.

SCHOLARSHIP SYMPOSIUM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

All Doctor of Physical Therapy students conduct a

research project or case report under the guidance of a

faculty member. Students enjoyed a unique opportunity

to showcase their work to the UNE community on

December 3, 2014 in the Beverly Burpee Finley ’44

Recreation Center at a department scholarship

symposium. Several students and faculty were selected

to present their scholarship at the June 2015 American

Physical Therapy Association NEXT Conference and

Exposition in National Harbor, Maryland. NEXT is the

leading-edge event for physical therapy professionals

with trend-setting programming, innovative content and

exclusive access to the profession’s forward thinkers.

Sarah Kou ’15

TITLE: Physical Therapy Management of a Patient with

Guillain-Barre Syndrome during and after Pregnancy: A

Case Report

AUTHORS: S. Kou, D.P.T. ’15.; A. Litterini, P.T., D.P.T. ’15.

Liz Kelly ’15

TITLE: Physical Therapy Management of a Patient with a

Transtibial Amputation Using an Over-Ground Body

Weight Support System: A Case Report

AUTHOR: E. Kelly, B.S., D.P.T. ’15; K. Buchanan, Ph.D., P.T., A.T.C.

Stephanie Sheehan ’15

TITLE: The Use of an Orthotic Garment System on a

Pediatric Patient with Mitochondrial Disease Complex

1+3: A Case Report

AUTHOR: S. Sheehan, L.A.T., A.T.C., D.P.T. ’15; K. Buchanan,

Ph.D., P.T., A.T.C.

Michelle Cronin ’15

TITLE: Acute Care Physical Therapy Management of a

Former Professional Athlete Following Unicompartmental

Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report

AUTHORS: M. Cronin, B.S., ATC/L, D.P.T. ’15; K. Buchanan,

Ph.D., P.T., A.T.C.

James Townsend ’15, Erin Collins ’15, Kaitlin Powers ’15

TITLE: Sled Towing Increases Hip Work Generation in

the Sagittal and Frontal Planes More Than Wearing a

Weighted Vest

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND AUTHORS:

J. Townsend, D.P.T. ’15.; E. Collins, D.P.T. ’15; K. Powers,

A.T.C., D.P.T. ’15; M. Lawrence, M.S.; E. Hartigan, D.P.T.,

O.C.S., Ph.D., A.T.C.

OA CENTERS FOR ORTHOPEDICS AUTHORS: B. Shaw,

P.A.C.; T. Murray, M.D.

Jayme Keith ’15

TITLE: The Ghana Cross Cultural Health Immersion Program

AUTHORS: M. Fillyaw P.T., M.S.; J. Keith D.P.T. ’15; and

D. Leighton P.T., D.P.T., O.C.S., M.T.C.

SERVING THE COMMUNITY

The University of New England is committed to providing

interprofessional academic and community-based

programming that prepares the next generation of health

care leaders for team-based practice. Students

representing the full range of health professions

programs work with one another through interactive

collaborative activities. Recently, the Department of

Physical Therapy and College of Pharmacy collaborated

to conduct several Fall Risk Screening events for older

adults living in the greater Portland community. The

events were a collaborative effort between the Southern

Maine Agency on Aging, Maine Health, Maine Medical

Center, Gentiva Home Health Services, Orthopedic

Physical Therapy Associates and UNE. Nearly 50 older

adults received a personalized fall risk screening,

mobility and balance assessment, blood pressure check,

medication review and recommendations for talking to

their health care provider about their fall-risk. The events

were held in celebration of National Fall Prevention

Awareness Day, sponsored by the National Council on

DEPARTMENTAL NEWS

Chris Halloran, Student Physical Therapist ’15 presents a case report on use of Anti-gravity and Functional Training

Department of Physical Therapy and College of Pharmacy students and faculty partner to conduct fall risk screenings for the older adult community in Portland, Maine

FEATURED ALUMNIAging. Faculty advisors were Jim Cavanaugh, P.T., Ph.D.;

Erin Koepf, Pharm.D., BCACP; Sarah Smith, Pharm.D.,

BCACP; and Lisa Pagnucco, Pharm.D., BCACP.

SERVICE LEARNING IN GHANA

The mission of the Global Education Program at the

University of New England is to foster global citizenship

by providing the opportunity for all students to study

abroad for a semester or during breaks. Students from

all health profession programs are able to participate in

these experiences. The Ghana Immersion in Health Care

Program offers a health care immersion experience in

which students work alongside Ghana Health Service,

Community Health Educators and the community. Since

2009, physical therapy students and faculty have

traveled to Sekondi and Takoradi, Ghana, West Africa

as part of the global immersion experience.

In 2013, Dennis Leighton, P.T., D.P.T., O.C.S., Associate

Professor, along with Christine Hill ’09, D.P.T. ’12, and

12 physical therapy students traveled with nursing,

pharmacy and public health students and faculty for

this cross-cultural health immersion experience. While in

Ghana, interprofessional teams joined by Ghanaian

physicians and nurses served more than 100 local

residents in a medical clinic based out of a church in

Sekondi. The physical therapy students were active in

prescribing exercises to enhance function, performing

vision assessments and treating wounds. They also

worked in intake/triage, saw patients while supervised

by doctors and conducted laboratory testing for malaria

and diabetes. Physical therapy students also spent time

in the physiotherapy departments at Effia Nkwanta Regional

Hospital in Takoradi, and the University of Cape Coast

Hospital in Cape Coast. When the clinic was closed, all

travelers experienced local Ghana culture by shopping

in the local villages, and attending soccer games and a

traditional Ghanaian drumming and dance performance.

TARYN WRIGHT, D.P.T. ’13

Tayrn Wright, D.P.T. ’13 decided to complete a postgraduate

residency program after graduation from the University of

New England and passing the National Physical Therapy

Exam. Housed within one of the largest teaching

organizations in the state of Texas, the Harris Health

Orthopedic Residency accepted Taryn into the program for

her first working experience as a licensed physical therapist.

“Over my year-long residency, I was able to hone my

clinical skills in orthopedic PT and manual therapy, act as

a clinical instructor for a second-year DPT student,

present guest lectures to local PT programs and conduct

my own personal research project. The one-on-one

mentor time and continued guided learning from highly

skilled clinicians was the highlight of the program. After

graduation from Harris Health’s Orthopedic Residency, I

accepted a position with NovaCare in Fridley, Minnesota

to be closer to my family in North Dakota.“

TRAVIS ORTH, D.P.T ’09

Travis Orth, D.P.T. ’09 was recently interviewed by Dr. Brian Cole on ESPN’s Sports Medicine Weekly radio

show out of Chicago, Illinois. The interview topic featured Orth’s research on plyometric strengthening of the

shoulder to prevent injuries, which was conducted with the participation of Deering High School pitching

athletes under the mentorship of Associate Professor Mike Fillyaw, P.T., M.S. The full study titled “Plyometric

Supraspinatus Strengthening in High School Baseball Players” was published with co-author Matt Somma,

D.P.T. ’09 in the International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training, Nov 2011, Vol 16, Issue 6. Access the

interview podcast online http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=6535061

COURTNEY KLENK. D.P.T. ’10

Courtney Klenk, D.P.T., a 2010 graduate of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, was named an Emerging

Leader in the October, 2014 issue of PT in Motion, the official publication of the American Physical Therapy

Association (APTA).

Klenk is currently a staff physical therapist with the Miriam Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinic in

Providence, Rhode Island. She currently serves as the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Physical

Therapy Association (RIAPTA) Membership Committee co-chair, a member of the Rehabilitation Planning

Council, leader of the Evidence-Based Practice Group, and representative for outpatient rehabilitation on

the Ambulatory Quality Council Committee at Miriam Hospital.

According to the article, “Klenk has made it her mission to increase chapter involvement among practicing

professionals and students alike.” She has organized visits to schools by chapter members to talk about

the importance of involvement in RIAPTA, as well as events to encourage membership and networking.

The article discusses what first attracted Klenk to physical therapy: After developing Iliotibial Band

Syndrome as a runner, she was extremely grateful for the help of her own physical therapist, Lynn Johnson,

P.T., M.S., O.C.S., C.S.C.S., a fellow running aficionado. “It was amazing the impact that Lynn had on my life.

I wanted to be able to have an impact on others’ lives and help them return to something they loved, just

like my therapist had done for me,” said Klenk.

In total, 18 Emerging Leaders were named for 2014. Each year, one physical therapist or physical therapist

assistant, who is less than 10 years from formal graduation, is selected from each APTA chapter or section.

Awardees are considered to have made exceptional overall accomplishments and contributions to APTA,

their chapter and the physical therapy profession by advancing APTA’s mission.

Westbrook College of Health ProfessionsDepartment of Physical TherapyUniversity of New England716 Stevens AvenuePortland, ME 04103–2670

DEPARTMENT of PHYSICAL THERAPYN E W S L E T T E R